Terrible Thoughts...

I'm having one of those days when I can't explain what exactly is going through my mind. Random thoughts rushing through like a bullet train that I'm missing at every station. I tried studying, working, even meditating. No luck. My "chattering monkey" (a term used in meditation to describe the distracting thoughts) wouldn't stop muttering.

How long will it take to get better? What are the things I'm missing out on and would like to start doing once I regain my strength and recover fully from my infection... How people around me have been so loving and helpful in getting me back on my feet, how hard it must have been for them...yet they have been wonderfully kind.

Soon it led me to think about people who are beyond "sick", elderly people, coma and cancer patients. There are zillion diseases now, I have seen my grandpa battle through a life threatening one. Those who are paralyzed or are too weak to move around, what must be going through their minds? How do they battle for life each day...the shock of being diagnosed with a disease, running for check ups, side effects of medications, draining treatments and the pressure of finances. Millions of disturbing thoughts gnawing at you are bound to send you into depression.

It's not easy being sick, you are lucky if you have someone helping you through your illness. If not, then the patient has to worry about people who are getting "troubled" by their illness too. I have heard of people who find it too hard to take care of their family member at such times, too frustrating and irritating for them, it seems. It is challenging to look after a patient, no doubt. Living through your normal routine and doing twice the work for the other person is not a small task. People who help others through their ailments day in and day out are truly angels.

It is a blessing to have loving and gentle people who understand how much you need them and their support. Because the positive motivation of getting well actually comes from the people you are with, family, friends or doctors/nurses, they somehow make you want to get well. Their faith and labor in getting you back on your feet can do wonders, it works even better than medicines at times.

My terrible idea today: If you are too depressed, think about people who are terminally ill and those who are diligently trying to save them. If these people can have true fighting spirit during such unbearable circumstances why can't we? Bole toh, apne aap ko get well soon bolne ka!

Har ad kuch kahta hai...

The purpose of an advertisement is to inform consumers about its product. Ignite a need in them to buy it and stay with the brand. Earlier the TV advertisements usually focused on consumer's basic needs and emotions, these ads had high re-call value. Leaving viewers with a positive feeling, no wonder we can still remember the Bajaj bulb ad (jab main chota ladka tha) these commercials still bring back smiles and laughter.

I still remember the first time I saw this old Cadbury commercial, I was watching a cricket match with my family, all I could say then was wow... I just wanted to eat Cadbury and dance at the stadium.

 

Good branding is also about what kind of emotion you are able to stir in your consumers through ads. A TV ad which leaves me with a positive memory often drives me to buy the product and be loyal to the brand. In good old days we generally used the same brand for ages, unlike today where switching from one brand to another is the in thing. 

 Humara Bajaj

 Har Ghar Kuch Kahta hai

Ad agencies like Ogilvy & Mather  McCann Erickson India Ltd usually manage to hit the jacket pot with their creative imagination and excellent sense of human emotions. Some ads just fill your heart with joy and inspire you with their creativity, they come like a refreshing breeze!

Amul - The taste of India

Live every moment...

Some leave you mesmerized...

Royal Enfield

Master Card

 

Truly awesome ads!

A Salute to People who are Different...

How well do we understand people around us? Do we judge their behaviour towards us and others? Each action observed stirs a thought process in us, nudging our minds to form an opinion which leaves a lasting impression. Some times it takes just a few seconds to understand someone and some times...it takes a lifetime. The way we treat people who are different from us speaks volumes about who we are.

Yesterday I saw a beautiful film called Pithamagan, one of those heart-touching movies you can't stop thinking about. I don't understand Tamil but I could understand this story thanks to my friend and the simple yet superb narrative style.

The story revolves around four characters played by Vikram, Surya, Laila and Sangeetha. Orphaned at an early age and raised by a funeral priest Chithan (Vikram) lives at crematorium. He seems to suffer from autism like disorder and exhibits feral behaviour as he doesn't have any contact with the society or a normal life. When the priest dies, Chithan is left to fend for himself. Gomathy (Sangeetha), a ganja seller, takes pity on him and tries to help him get a job at a ganja field. Sakthi (Surya) is a conman and cons Manju (Laila), always at loggerheads she gets him arrested. Police catches Chithan during a ganja smuggling, both Chithan and Sakthi land up in the same cell. Sakthi begins to understand Chithan's conditions and helps him, their bond becomes stronger once they get out of jail. The ganja dealer takes advantage of Chithan's innocence and the only person standing in his way is Surya.

Autism is a developmental disorder, it affects the brain's normal development of social and communication skills. How many people can understand this condition? How many can accept autistic patients instead of shunning them. Why is it easier for some people to understand someone different while impossible for others? Gomathy and Sakthi could immediately tell that Chithan was suffering from a condition and couldn't help being the way he is, they accepted him and tried to help him. The shop keepers from the village, on the other hand, misinterpreted his behaviour and rejected him.

Imagine, if you are unable to show your emotion because you don't even know that it exists...Not knowing how to laugh or cry. Chithan showed true animal behaviour, self defense aggression by growling or snaping for a warning. But he didn't know how to smile or cry. Often we fight with our family, friends or lover because we feel they don't understand what we go through. Yet there is so much we don't understand about the people who are mentally challenged or from a different strata of society. Often we ignore, shun and insult them because we don't get them. Gomathy and Sakthi didn't have to be doctors to know that Chithan needed help.

My terrible idea - None of us have to be experts to understand people who are different, we just need to be open minded and kind. Empathy is the word :-)
A salute to people who are different from us!

Lauki aur Gajjar ka Pulav

Ingredients:

1 Lauki (bottle gourd) small
2 carrots or as required
2 medium onions chopped
Rice as per requirement
Ginger garlic paste as per taste
Red chilli powder
Turmeric
Coriander powder
Jeera powder
Dried mango powder
Salt
Oil

Garam masala
Red chillis (dry) 2/3
Bay leaves 2
cinnemon 1
Cloves 2/3
Pepper corns 4/5

I never measure my food, as you can see I haven't given any specific quantity to be used here. Please add the ingredients as per your taste and requirement. The reason I made this dish was because my legs were quite stiff and paining, so I wanted a quick dinner instead of a quick leg break. Well, here we go...

Peel and cut both bottle gourd and carrot and cut them into cubes and keep aside. Soak the rice for 15 minutes before cooking.

Heat oil in a pressure cooker, add the whole garam masalas till it crackles, add chopped onions and stir till they are half brown. Sprinkle little water over the onions for putting in the bottle gourd and carrots cubes, add chilli powder, turmeric, jeera powder, coriander powder, dried mango powder and ginger garlic paste. Stir till the masala is cooked, add rice, salt and water. Pressure cook for 3/4 whistles. Tastes best with curd and papad!

You can also add capsicum and peas to enhance the taste.

The cruel race called human!

Creatures of convenience can never get enough, they are never satisfied with what they have. always running after a mirage in search of shallow satisfaction. Why can't people be kind to others? Why is it so damn hard to think about others safety and feelings?

The culling of HELPLESS dogs proposed by BBMP in Kerala...bull fights, inhumane acts of food industry, game shows performing cruelty on animals... makes me sick!

I can never get as comfortable with human as I do with animals. Harmless, selfless and pure at heart, they adjust, love unconditionally and never hurt others unless in self defense.